Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Thud, n. Also: thude, thuid(e, thoud. [Uncertain, perhaps onomatopoeic. Cf. Thud,v.]

1. A blast or gust of wind. Also const. of (weddir, wind). 1513 Doug. i i 80 (Sm.).
[Pallas] with a thuid [L. turbine] stikkit on ane scharp roike 1513 Doug. v vi 60.
Befor thame all furth bowtis with a bend Nysus … mair spedely Than thud of weddir or thundyr in the sky [L. et ventis et fulminis ocior alis] 1531 Bell. Boece II 52.
Haistelie come sic ane thud of wind, that sail, mast, and taikillis wer blawin in the brim seis 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 174.
The fumart and the fittret … did thole mony thud, For cauld thay wer discomfeist clene, The schowrs wer sa seueir 1611 J. Melvill in McCrie Melville 445.
The stormie vind with thouds And balfoull billows on the sea did blaw

b. A whirling motion accompanied by a loud noise, like a gust of wind. 1513 Doug. xi vi 141.
With quhou gret a thud in the melle Ane lance towartis hys aduersar thrawys he 1513 Doug. xii xiv 90.
Lyke the blak thud of awfull thundris blast Furth flaw the schaft

c. A loud report or crack.The quot. Wynt. iv 2389 may belong in 1. c1420 Wynt. iv 2389 (W).
A sudane thud [R. thude] maid sic a frusch That all the wyndois at a brusche … Brak vp 1535 Stewart 12028.
Thair scheildis rave and all thair speiris brak With sic ane thude evin lyke ane thunder crak a1585 Polwart Flyt. 531 (H).
Resceiv ȝour roaring rage and eager ire, Inflamed with fearfull thundring thuddes of fyre a1586 Pinkerton Anc. Scot. Poems (1786) 246.
Hir voice sa rank … Most lyik the thundring thuds of canoun din 1587-99 Hume 38/121.
As fierie flauches with suddaine thundring thuds, … Sa sall the Lord appeare into the cluds

2. A blow, thump. a1500 K. Hart 589.
Syn gaif he him the thuide ewin behind